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  • BBC One

Sister Wendy's Story of Painting

  • 1996
  • Ended
  • Documentary
  • ~30m / ep
  • 1 season
  • 8.5/10

Sister Wendy Beckett takes a journey through the history of art in this ten-part series.

Latest: Season 1 · 1996

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Sister Wendy Beckett takes a journey through the history of art in this ten-part series.

  1. E1. The Mists of Time

    Jul 1, 1996 · 30m

    Sister Wendy discovers masterpieces from the time of the cavemen, the world of the pharaohs, and the age of chivalry.

  2. E2. A Hero Steps Forth

    Jul 8, 1996 · 30m

    Sister Wendy takes a closer look at art in the Middle Ages. Featured is works by Giotto, Duccio, Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Simone Martini, Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden and Hieronymus Bosch.

  3. E3. The Age of Genius

    Jul 15, 1996 · 30m

    Sister Wendy visits Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, where she explains why she thinks the Mona Lisa is smiling. Then she moves on to Rome, where she explores the Sistine Chapel.

  4. E4. Two Sides of the Alps

    Jul 22, 1996 · 30m

    Sister Wendy looks at the Renaissance in Venice and Northern Europe, taking in works by Bellini, Titian, Giorgione, Veronese, Durer, Holbein and Bruegel along the way.

  5. E5. Passion and Ecstasy

    Aug 5, 1996 · 30m

    Sister Wendy looks at how, in the Baroque period, the Catholic Church used art and artists to fight back against the Reformation of Rome.

  6. E6. Three Golden Ages

    Aug 12, 1996 · 30m

    Sister Wendy explores the golden ages of painting in 17th century Spain, France and the Netherlands. She journeys from Rembrandt's Amsterdam through the Spanish court and the works of Velazquez to the ruins of ancient Rome.

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